Edging device for sheet material



2 Sheets-Sheet l A from/EVS ci. J. MELBY EDGING- DEVICE FOR SHEET MATERIAL By MW July 3l, i951 Filed April 4, 1950 July 3l, 1951 c. J. MELBY EDGING DEVICE FOR SHEET MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1950 INVENTOR.

A TTOR/VEYS Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDGING DEVICE FOR SHEET MATERIAL Charles J. Melby, Everett, Wash.

Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,923

(Cl. D14- 117) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to mill machinery and particularly to apparatus for squaring up the edges and ends of shingles, shakes, box boards, and other sheet products wherein parallel sides and parallel ends at right angles to the sides are desired. More particularly my invention relates to such a device employed in connection with pieces of sheet material of varying widths. In the interest of clarity and to prevent undue duplication of words, the various products which may be edged in my device will be referred to as shingles, but it is to be understood that such word is used in an illustrative sense and not as a limitation.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement on issued Letters Patent to me dated February 1'7, 1942, and bearing Number 2,273,653.

My present invention in a general way improves over devices embodied in my said Letters Patent as to the resilient guide 34 of my previous patent and as to hold down means operating in conjunction with the outside cutter head 24 thereof.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of adevice embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken substantially in the direction of broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side fragmentary elevational view of parts shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings on substantially the same scale as Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View on a still langer scale than Fig. 1 and showing an edging guide of my invention and illustrating a fragment of a shingle in connection therewith and with the shingle in a diiferent position than illustrated in connection with Fig. 1; and

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary plan view of parts shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

As my present invention is an improvement on ,said Letters Patent issued to me, many of the rparts of the present invention will be readily apment thereon. The intake portion of the mechanism is toward the lower right of Fig. 1 and shingle 8 will thus be the incoming shingle in the intake portion of the device. A conveyor chain 9 has spaced lugs I0 thereon and thus spaces shingles 8 and I I as lugs I0 abut against the butt edge of a shingle and urge the shingles in the direction of the arrows indicated on Fig. 1. A fixed edge guide I2 is carried by frame 6 and one edge of shingles 8 and II are guided thereagainst as a primary guide edge so that the other three edges of the shingle can 'be squared therewith, i. e., the opposite edge of the shingle can be cut parallel with the initial guide edge of the shingle and the ends of the shingle may be cut at right angles to the initial or primary guideredge.

In order to insure that the shingles are held down and continuously crowded against the guide edge I2, I provide a plurality of hold down crowding rolls I3. Referring also to Figs. 2 and 3, a pivotal support I4 is carried by frame structure 6. The pivotal support I4 may be in the nature of a shaft journaled in bearing I5 which bearing I5 in turn is carried by frame structure 6, Lever arms I6 and I'I may be integral and are rigidly mounted on shaft I4 and towards one side of the machine. The weight of the mechanism tends to hold rolls I3 in a downward position and such tendency is augmented by a spring I8 connecting between arm II and frame structure 6. Downward movement of each roll I3 is limited `by an adjusting screw I9 carried by arm I6 and abutting a portion of the frame structure 6. Adjusting screw I9 is threadedly engaged with the arm I6. Thus the lowermost position of each roll I3 may be such so that a limited rise of each roll I3 is accomplished by a shingle passing thereunder.

Also, rigidly mounted on each shaft I4 is a yoke 20 Which rotatably mounts a roll I3. Thus as each shaft I4 angularly moves, by reason of a shingle passing thereunder or passing there past, each roll I3 will rise or fall which in turn is reflected in angular movement in shaft I4 and parts rigidly connected therewith.

Each roll I3 is preferably provided with a helical grooved track 2I on the periphery thereof. The direction of angular grooving of the grooved track 2| of each hold down crowding roll i3 is such to urge shingles sidewise and against edge guide I2.

'I'he machine may be designed for most convenient ease of operation for a left or right handedoperator. The construction shown in the drawings is shown for operation by a right handed operator. Obviously, appropriate changes can be made in redesigning the machine if it is to be operated by a left handed operator. Thus, an operator will feed the shingle 8 into substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and before one of the lugs I0 arisesv to engage the butt end of a shingle and with one edge of assenze the shingle substantially close to the guide edge l2. Then the conveyor chain 9 moves the shingle 8 in the direction of the arrow upon a lug Ill engaging such a shingle. As the shingle continues to move towards the left, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the shingle engages hold down crowding rolls I3 and is urged or maintained against the edge guide l2. As soon as the outer edge of a shingle 8 approaches a movable guide cam 22 the opeartor moves the lever 23 and parts connected therewith until the movable guide cam 22 engages the leading outside edge of the shingle 8.

As will hereinafter appear, the mechanism connected with the movable guide cam 22 is such that an operator can move the guide cam 22 into contact with the leading outside edge of a shingle 8 and promptly thereafter the movable guide mechanism, including movable guide cam 22, will be locked against further transverse movement so that the rotary cutter head` 24 may cut on a plane parallel to edgeguide l2 and which plane of cutting is determined by the initial setting. made by the operator in moving the movable guide cam 22 against a leading edge portion of a shingle 8. While cutting saws may be readily substituted and are a full mechanical equivalent of the rotary cutter head 24, nevertheless I prefer to employ a movable cutter head 24 in finishing the outside edge of a shingle 8 as I find the same performs a better job than may be accomplished by the use of a saw mechanism. Also, if a rotary cutter head 24 is to be employed I preferably provide rotation of the same in the same direction of travel of the shingle rather than counter 2 to the travel of the shingle as this locates frayed or torn edges, if any, at the tip end of a shingle rather than at the butt end of a shingle. Due to the manner of laying or applying shingles frayed or torn parts at the tip end of the shingle will not degrade a shingle, while the same tears or frays at the butt end of a shingle would degrade the same.

The mechanism interconnecting lever arm 23 with the rotary cutter head 24 may be somewhat similar to the structure illustrated in my said issued patent. In my said issued patent the resilient guide 34 is replaced by the movable guide cam 22 for reasons hereinafter explained and which movable guide cam 22 comprises one f of the primary inventions herein. As the said resilient guide 34' of said issued patent moved outwardly and then inwardly automatically until the same engaged the outside edge of a shingle,

the operator had two hands available for feeding. shingles and hence it was more convenient for a right handed operator to feed the mechanism indicated in my said patent. In the present invention the operator moves the lever arm 23 ,Y

by his most adept arm, such as his right arm, and hence will be feeding the shingles with his left hand and hence the arrangement of my present invention. The assembly for mounting the rotary cutter head 24 for swinging movement may be substantially the same as that indicated in my said patent. This assembly comprises fixed pivots 25 carried by main frame structure. Parallel arms 26 each have an end portion pivoted onxed pivots 25 and have their other end portions pivotally connected tov a cross link 21. Cross link 21 mounts rotary cutter head 24. One Way of driving rotary cutter head 24 comprises a driven belt 28 connected to any suitable source of power, not shown. Driven belt 28 is rigid, about an idle sheave 29. Idle sheave 29 is con- 4 nected with rotary cutter head 24 by means of belt 30. Cross link 21 connects with shaft 3|. Thus, as the operator moves the lever arm 23 toward and away from himself or toward and away from shingle 8, movable guide cam 22 moves away from or toward shingle 8 and at the same time shaft 3l moves away from or toward shingle 8. Locking means are provided in connection with shaft 3| so that it may be locked against longitudinal movement of the shaft or transverse movement relative to the shingles in synchronism with the travel of the shingles in a manner similar to that illustrated in my said patent. In other words, the operator providesv an initial position transversely of the machine of the cutter head 24 and shortly thereafter locking mechanism limits longitudinal movement of the shaft 3l and relatively fixes the crosswise movement of the rotary cutter head 24 because of the relative position of the shingle 8 in its travel to the cutter head 24. This means that once a cut is started by the cutter head 24, the cutter head 24 is xed so that it cuts in a line parallel to the edge guide I2 and the relative Width of cut will depend upon the initial setting of the guide cam 22 by the operator as respectsv a particular width shingle.

Most shingles are narrower at the tip than at the butt portion and in order to provide parallel edges it is generally necessary to cut oi a tapered piece gradually increasing in width as we approach the butt end of a shingle. However, some shingles taper slightly in the opposite direction and devices of my invention will operate on either normal or abnormal shingles.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 which show the details of construction embodying the movable guide cam 22, a frame structure 32 is connected with the parallelogram construction embodying arms 28 and cross link 21. In Fig. 4 of the drawings it is shown that frame structure 32 connects with one of the parallel arms 26. The frame structure 32 is provided with guides 33 through which guide plate 34 is mounted for longitudinal movement. In order to provide for an adjustment between movable guide cam 22 relative to rotary cutter head 24 a slot 35 is provided `in plate 34 and nut and bolt means 36 extend through an opening in frame structure 32 and through the slot 35. Also, a threaded set screw 31 threadedly engages a portion of the frame structure 32 and abuts against a portion of plate 34. Thus upon slightly loosening of nut anu bolt means 36, the set screw 31 may be tightened and the guide 22 moved relatively closer to a shingle than is the rotary cutter head 24. Of course, after any adjustment is obtained the nut and bolt means- 36 are tightened to maintain such an adjustment.

Movable guide cam 22 is mounted for angular movement on a shaft 38 and assumes a normal position against stop 39 because of the influence of spring 4I). As the outside edge portion of a shingle 8 (a fragment of which is shown in Fig. 4) abuts against the cam surface of movable guide cam 22 as the shingle 8 is moving in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4, then if the butt portion of the shingle increases in width the cam guide 22 can angularly move in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4. Generally the cam guide 22 is adjusted relatively further laterally away from the xed guide l2 than the cutter 24, such as one-eighth of an inch, so that straight edged shingles will have a trimmed edge. Also the locking mechanism for determining the lateral position of the swinging frame ver arm`23 in this position without additionahY pressure until the locking mechanism hereinafter described engages shaft 3| and locks the parallelogram and parts connected therewith in the desired position and then when the shingle 8 passes the guide cam 22 the rotary cutter head 24 will be laterally xed to cut in a plane parellel to and at the proper distance away from edge guide I2. However, if the operator sees a shingle which is enough wider at the tip than at the butt so the outer edge will not have a complete cut on the outside edge, he may merely increase the pressure on lever arm 23 so that by the frictional engagement between the cam surface of the guide cam 22 and the outside edge of a shingle 8, the cam guide 22 will be caused to angularly move thus permitting the rotary cutter head 24 to move closer to the edge guide |2 until a cutting alignment of the rotary cutter head 24 is reachedv which will be sufficient to take a larger cut at the tip of the shingle and a suiiicient cut at the butt of the shingle so that the outside edge of the shingle is cut on a line parallel to the inside edge of the shingle abutting against edge guide l2. On normal shingles having a narrower tip and a wider butt, the guide cam 22 will angularly move as the shingle 8 passes the said guide to relieve pressure and prevent breakage of the shingles.

In my former patent I employed a resilient spring leaf 34 and shingles were placed under relatively high strains as the shingles varied in width between the tip and the butt portions. However, with the cam guide 22 which is angularly movable, substantially equal pressures obtain as the cam guide 22 presents a portion oi' its cam surface which is closer or further away from the edge guide I2. With an elongated spring 40 guide cam 22 can angularly move substantial distances without reaching the limitations of spring 40 while `on the other hand the leaf spring 34' of my previous patent at times reached its limit of resiliency and hence at times substantial side pressures were involved which tended to break or shatter the shingles. Thus there is a distinct improvement in the mode of operation and construction of the present invention involving movable guide cam 22 over leaf spring 34 of my previous patent.

The means for locking shaft 3| against further longitudinal movement after it has been manually adjusted for a particular shingle and in synchronism with the travel of the shingle 8 is substantially the same as indicated in my said issued patent and is therefore only fragmentarily and diagrammatically illustrated herein as such forms no part of the present invention. Thus, by way of illustration the fragmentary parts herein correspond with the parts shown best in Figs. 2`, 4 and 5 of said patent as follows; shaft 3| corresponds with shaft 3'7; chain 45 corresponds with chain 49; sprocket-cam 46 corresponds with sprocket-cam 45; and block 41 corresponds with block 40. Thus after shaft 3| has been initially manually positioned by the operator and before the leading edge of a shingle engages rotary cutter head 24, shaft 3| is locked so far as transof a shingle.

verse movement of the machine is concerned and the cutter head 24 cuts a complete cut on the outer edge of a shingle and cuts a cut parallel to the guide edge |2. Then the shaft 3| is released so it may be moved in a direction transverse of the machine or longitudinally of said shaft 3| so that the movable guide cam can be properly positioned relative to the advancing outside edge of the next succeeding shingle and the cycle continues thereafter as shingles are fed through the machine.

As the inside edge of a shingle passes along in abutting relation on the edge guide l2, the inside edge of the shingle engages a driven rotary cutter head 48. This driven rotary cutter head 48 isA driven by any suitable means, as belt means 49 connected to any suitable source of power, not

shown. The driven rotary cutter head 48 is fixed` against sidewise movement and cuts a predetermined cut suicient to clear up the inside edge of the shingle and cuts parallel to the edge guide I2. In accordance with the usual practice the driven rotary cutter head 48 may be adjustable to allow for a smaller or larger cut as is required in individual operations to clear up the inside edge of the shingles. Also, the driven rotary cutter head 48 may be replaced by a driven rotary saw but I preferably employ a driven rotary cutter head 48 and drive the same with the travel similar to rotary cutter head 24 and for the same purpose.

In the foregoing description the shingle was described as merely being held down on its inner edge or its edge adjacent the edge guide |2. However, it is desirable to hold down the outer edge of a shingle and particularly at thetime that the rotary cutter head 24 is cutting the outside edge Thus, I preferably mount a hold down means on the parallelogram construction comprising arms 26 and cross link 2l so that this hold down will move transversely with the rotary cutter head 24 and will be in close proximity thereto. Such hold down means 50 has a portion thereof shown in Fig. l, numbered 5G and the details of the hold down means are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and the hold down member is numberedgenerally 50 in said Figs. 4 and 5. The hold down means 50 comprises a ski-like member 5| resiliently held downwardly by Spring means 52, one end of which is connected to the top of a plate 53 and the bottom of which is connected to frame structure 32. The plate 53 is rigid with ski-like member 5| and is movable upwardly and downwardly therewith. Two parallel links 54 are pivoted to a portion of the frame structure 32 and have their other ends pivotally connected with the plate 53. Thus the plate 53 moves in a vertical plane as we have a parallelogram involved and also ski-like member 5I is maintained sub'- stantially parallel to the top of a shingle and with the portion engaging the advancing tip edge of shingles turned upwardly like a ski to facilitate entrance of the shingles under the hold down member and so that the ski-like member 5| may rest on the outside upper edge of a shingle and adjacent the rotary cutter head 24 to hold down the outside edge of a shingle at the time the same is being cut by said rotary cutter head 24.

After the shingles have their outside edge cut by rotary cutter head 24 and their inside edge cut parallel thereto by rotary cutter head 48 we thus have a shingle with two opposed parallel edges, then such shingles are delivered from conveyor chain 9 and under hold down means 55. The lugs l0 on the conveyor chain 9 drop downwardly as they pass about sprocket 43 and the relationship 7, ssucli that the' shingles do not pass too far towardfthe left as viewed in Fig. 1 and hold down means 55 prevents overtravel` as the same frictionally engages the shingles. It is desired that the shingles shall not travel beyond alignment with the cam surface 56 as it is desired that the butt end of the shingles in their travel longitudinally of hold down means 55 shall engage the cam surface 55 and. be movedthereby into alignment` with the cam surface 51 (see Fig. 1 toward the left thereof). In order to convey shingles at right angles to their travel after they are beyond the influence of conveyor chain 9, I provide a conveyor 58 having lugs 59 thereon. The conveyor 58 is driven by any suitable means, fragmentarily illustrated, and in synchronism with the conveyor chain 9. Thus lugs 59 of conveyor chain 58 will be presentedA in timed sequence to the delivery of shingles to the conveyor 58 after the same leave conveyor 9. As the shingles travel under hold down means 55 under the infiuence of lugs` 59 the butt portion of a shingle will engage cam surface 56 and the shingles are moved toward the left as respects Fig. l ofthe drawings and into alignment with cam surface 51. As the shingles continue they are held down by hold down means 60 and they encounter spaced apart driven rotary saws 6l and 62. As the shingle 63 is held in alignment by spaced lugs 59 and is held down by hold down means B0, the butt and tip of the shingle will be cut by saws 6l and 62 and at right angles to the parallel cuts on the edges of the shingles provided by cutters 24 and 48. As the details of the conveyor 58, lugs 59, hold down means 55, hold down means 60, and driven rotary saws 6l and 62 form no part of the present invention they are not further described and are somewhat fragmentarily illustrated. As we are cutting across the grain of the wood rather than with the grain, preferably rotary saws 5| and 62 are employed rather than cutter heads. Also, in accordance with common practice the rotary saws 6l and 62 rotate against the travel of the shingle 63 rather than with the same.

Thus from the foregoing description it is obvious that I have provided devices which are operable in combination with a trimming device for trimming pieces of sheet material,.as shingles, of varying widths. In the trimming device there is an edge guide I2 so that the inner edge of a shingle may be abutted against the same. A laterally movable frame comprising parallel arms 26 and cross link 21 carries driven rotary cutter head 24 for cutting the outer edge of a shingle which has its inner edge abutted against the fixed guide l2. The laterally movable frame structure also carries a guide cam 22. The guide cam 22 operates in advance of the rotary cutter head 24 and determines the lateral position of the movable frame and in turn the rotary cutter head 24 connected therewith. Any suitable means, as lever arm 23, may be employed for swinging the movable frame and parts connected therewith particularly the cam 22 and the cutter head 24.

The cam 22 has a spiral cam track and is normally held so that a portion of `the spiral cam track removed from the center of rotation of the cam 22 may be moved into engagement with the tip portion of a shingle. The spring 46 normally urges the cam track 22 and parts associated therewith against a fixed stop 39. The cam track 22 is mounted for angular or rotary movement about shaft 38. The periphery of the cam track 22 engages the outside edge of a shingle 8 and thus by frictional engagement the cam 22 may be rotated in agiven direction, as clock- Wise in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and present a caml portion closer to the shaft 38 as the cam 22 is angularly moved by frictional engagement with theA outer edge of the shingle 8.

The hold down means best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 ofthe drawings'provide a ski-like member 5l for'holding the outer edge of a shingle and atshingles, of varying widths, the combination withy a xed guide to be engaged by the inner edge of a shingle, a frame laterally movable toward and away from the outer edge of a shingle havingv its inner edgeabutting said fixed guide, a side edgey cutter connected with said movable frame for cuttingr the outer edge of a shingle, and a conveyor for urging shingles through the trimming device, comprising cam guide bearing means connected with said movable frame; a rotatable cam guide positioned in advance of said side edge'cutter and determining the lateral position of said movable frame and parts connected therewith and having a spiral cam track engageable withtheouter edge of a shingle and rotatable, by engagement with the outer edge of a shingle, t0 present to said shingle cam surface portions gradually approaching its center of angular movement; resilient means normally urging said cam guide track into anl angular position to present a portion of its spiral cam track removed from its center of rotation for engagement with the outer edgeportion of a shingle; and lever means for laterally moving said frame, said cam guide, and said'4 side edge cutter toward and away from said fixed guide.

2. The combination ofl claim l wherein the said rotatable cam guide has a fixed stop arresting angular movement in one direction and with a portion of cam track surface removed from its center of rotation presented to the outside edge of a shingle; and spring means angularly urging the cam against said xed stop.

3. The combination of claim l wherein shingle hold down means are connected with said laterall-y movable frame and engage the outer edge of a shingle in close proximity to said edge cutter.

4. In aV deviceA for trimming. outside edges oi sheets of material of varying widths, the combinationYwith-a fixedside guide, a swinging frame movable toward and away from said fixed guide, and a side cutter carried by said swinging. frame, comprising a-rotatable cam guide connected with said sw-inging frame; and a spiral cam track carried by said cam guide and aligned to engage the outside edge-.of a sheet of material to determine the relative position of the swinging frame upon contact with said edge of the material and to rotate by engagement with said edge of the material and to present to said edge of the material por-tionsY of the spiral cam track having different distances fromthe center of rotation CHARLES J. MELBY.

No referencesl cited. 

